Leather Law in Brazil

When is leather not leather? Brazil is very clear on the facts and has enacted a law that protects its leather industry from materials that use incorrect and confusing terminology.

In Brazil, for over 50 years federal legislation has existed to defend leather and its correct identification. Law 4.888/65 is also known as Leather Law and the regulation establishes that the word “leather” can only be used when referring to products made of animal skin, which means that in Brazil it is prohibited to either say or write that something is made from “synthetic leather”, “eco leather”, veg leather”, among others.

The CICB (Centre for the Brazilian Tanning Industry) has developed an extensive national project that checks the communication of brands and stores regarding leather goods and synthetic material. Advertisements and verbal communication related to shoes, clothes, bags, accessories, upholstery and automotive upholstery are the main points checked by the project, which aims to spread the legal provision between shop owners, vendors and consumers. It has already visited more than 118.000 establishments and reported more than 12.000violations of the law.

This is one of the major projects conducted by CICB and it has already obtained important advances in medium and large retail chains, media and in the automotive sector. On our website (www.brazilianleather.com.br ) there is a special content about the Leather Law, with information on legislation, how to report incorrect communication concerning leather and tips to identify leather articles, among others.

Check out the excellent CICB video on the sustainability of leather, the tanning industry in Brazil and the law.